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Bowel cancer on the rise among young people in Europe
Bowel cancer is on the increase among young people in Europe, researchers have discovered, with expanding waistlines thought to play a role in the rise.
The condition is most common in the elderly, but some research suggests it is more aggressive in young people. According to recent figures, it is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK, with about 16,000 deaths a year. More than half of bowel cancer cases are thought to be preventable.
Now researchers say that across Europe the rate of new cases of colon cancer among people aged 20-39 has risen by 7.4% each year between 2008 and 2016, with incidence of rectal cancer also increasing.
The findings mirror a trend already seen in other parts of the world including the US, Australia and China.
“We were wondering if this trend was also seen in the European population,” said Fanny Vuik of the Erasmus medical centre in Rotterdam, who presented the findings at the UEG Week gastroenterology meeting in Vienna.
The research included data from national cancer registries of 20 European countries, including the UK, Norway, Slovenia and Germany.
In 65% of countries, colorectal cancer incidence rose in young people, while in 30% it remained steady and in 5% it declined.
“We did see a decrease in incidence for the older population and that is because most of the European countries have a [colorectal cancer] screening programme,” said Vuik. “So we detect cancer at an earlier stage and also we have new therapies.”
The condition is most common in the elderly, but some research suggests it is more aggressive in young people. According to recent figures, it is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK, with about 16,000 deaths a year. More than half of bowel cancer cases are thought to be preventable.
Now researchers say that across Europe the rate of new cases of colon cancer among people aged 20-39 has risen by 7.4% each year between 2008 and 2016, with incidence of rectal cancer also increasing.
The findings mirror a trend already seen in other parts of the world including the US, Australia and China.
“We were wondering if this trend was also seen in the European population,” said Fanny Vuik of the Erasmus medical centre in Rotterdam, who presented the findings at the UEG Week gastroenterology meeting in Vienna.
The research included data from national cancer registries of 20 European countries, including the UK, Norway, Slovenia and Germany.
In 65% of countries, colorectal cancer incidence rose in young people, while in 30% it remained steady and in 5% it declined.
“We did see a decrease in incidence for the older population and that is because most of the European countries have a [colorectal cancer] screening programme,” said Vuik. “So we detect cancer at an earlier stage and also we have new therapies.”
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/22/bowel-cancer-on-the-rise-among-young-people-in-europe
